AZI Volume 1 Chapter 27

(Tough one, but that will just make it even more worthwhile—when I slay it!)

*Klang! Klang! Klang!* fending off the steel hound's claws with his sword, Huang Wu can't help but feel a rush of excitement coursing through his body with each hit that he manages to land on the former's body.

As someone that is labeled as an Immortal by the residents of this world, this beast couldn't be anything less than prey to him with his current level of cultivation.

*Grawr!* as the steel hound raises a roar, the red mist that emanates from its joints turns denser, causing Huang Wu to constrict his eyes in surprise.

(This thing… Seems like it's capable of strengthening itself further. What a find!)

Thinking of this, Huang Wu laughs aloud, as his attacks increase in aggression—forcing the steel hound to take on defensive maneuvers.

"Heh."

Just as Huang Wu takes another step forward—

*Boom!!!* thunder roars, and abruptly rain begins to fall.

"What's going on?"

Startled by the sudden change in weather, Huang Wu looks around in confusion.

Exploiting this opportunity, the steel hound turns the other way and begins to flee. Its instincts told it that it couldn't possibly hope to defeat the Immortal in its current state.

"What?"

Directing his eyes towards a damaged building that is missing half its rooftop, Huang Wu sees the figure of Long Hua sitting in lotus posture.

(Who is this person? Isn't he a weapon spirit? How is he…?)

In a world that is only visible to Immortals like Huang Wu, all the thin strands of spirit Qi that are in the air are being gathered towards Long Hua—almost as if he is a black hole.

(…Is he a rogue practitioner who wandered into this realm?)

As this thought crosses Huang Wu's mind, 28 bolts of lightning simultaneously descend from above, and head towards Long Hua.

(28 bolts? This…)

The event of lightning descending upon practitioners, who are ascending to another realm of cultivation is called a tribulation.

Only by accepting these bolts of lightning with their body and surviving through them can a practitioner be deemed to have successfully taken another step forward—on their long journey towards true immortality.

"…"

Opening his eyes with them emanating a pale white glow, Long Hua raises his head towards the dark skies.

In that instance, the 28 bolts of lightning merge together to become a single bolt that is as thick as a tree truck, and towards it—

(Rotate your cultivation base and transfer the energy to your fists. Strike firmly with the intent to-)

"Destroy."

Maintaining his lotus seating posture, Long Hua strikes the falling bolt of lightning with his right fist, and upon contact—

*BOOM!!!* the lightning bolt shatters!

"…"

Dusting off the static electricity that is coiling around his hand, Long Hua looks to Huang Wu—who is gazing back at him with an expression of astonishment.

(This person… One hit and he cleared his tribulation?)

As the rainfall worsens, Long Hua rises to a stand and descends from the rooftop to land a few meters away from Huang Wu.

"Who are you? What are you doing here in Leng Bing Realm?"

At first a look of surprise appears on Long Hua's face towards his own ability to understand the Immortal's tongue.

To the residents of this world, the tongue spoken by the Immortals is a language that they haven't had much luck wrapping their heads around.

"Leng Bing Realm?"

"You don't know what the Leng Bing Realm is? Must be a rogue practitioner for sure."

Almost as soon as he had said this, doubt appeared in Huang Wu's head.

(Strange… Without a special medallion like the one that I'm carrying, a person can't possibly hope to use their cultivation base here in Leng Beng Realm, and yet…)

Directing an odd look towards Long Hua, Huang Wu asks—

"You've at least heard of the Líng Yuán family have you not?"

"Ling Yuan?"

Finally, it is Huang Wu's turn to make a look of surprise, as he asks—

"What sort of countryside bumpkin are you to not have heard of my household's name? We're-"

"Forget it. You got a storage type magic treasure on you?"

"I have a storage pouch."

"Oh? I see."

Towards Huang Wu's answer, Long Hua smirks as he holds his right hand out flattened.

"Hand it over."

Approaching Huang Wu with a speed that left behind afterimages, Long Hua makes a grab towards the green drawstring pouch that is hanging from the former's black sash.

Towards Long Hua's approach, Huang Wu immediately takes a step back while lashing his sword outwards!

"…"

Bending his knees, Long Hua evades the sword that is being swung at him.

Just as the sword is positioned directly above his face, Long Hua transfers his entire body weight onto his left foot while launching his right leg upwards!

"Ack!"

Having been kicked beneath his wrist, Huang Wu loosens the grip of his sword causing it to fly into the air.

"…"

Straightening his posture, Long Hua takes one step forward and grounds himself firmly in place, while launching a palm strike aimed at Huang Wu's chest.

(The spirit Qi contained in one's body is not inexhaustible. With your current level of cultivation, it wouldn't do for you to always shroud your body with it. Only rotate your cultivation base—when you are given the opportunity to attack, and only shroud the portion of your body that you are striking with.)

Recalling these instructions, Long Hua lands his attack causing Huang Wu to grimace with pain as he takes five steps backwards.

Simultaneously, Huang Wu's sword that was knocked out of his hand lands and stabs itself into the ground.

"You…! What sort of cultivation method did you utilize…? You can't possibly be at Foundation Establishment yet."

Towards Huang Wu's disbelief, Long Hua clenches his hand into a fist and holds it out to the former.

"Cultivation method? Is that your excuse? In that case, my cultivation method is called Beating My Son on a Rainy Day Because I'm Bored."